Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, and the Kingston Trio were youngsters next to the Weavers, but without these acoustic elders, the aforementioned artists may have never found their folk voices. The Weavers were the main cata... more &raquolyst behind the folk explosion of the '50s and early '60s. This album captures the spark that led to that detonation. Certainly the foursome was responsible for the leftist political bent associated with folk music to this day. The Weavers were one of the few musical entities blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings in 1952 after a witness named them as Communists, probably a result of members Lee Hays and Pete Seeger's labor-union activities. In 1955 the quartet reunited for this historic show--and you can still hear the triumphant spirit in the air that night as the group (and audience) delight in the Weavers' brand of eclecticism, moving from Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie covers to old English ballads, African music, New Orleans spirituals, and songs that would soon influence rock & roll. --Bill Holdship&laquo less

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording

Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, and the Kingston Trio were youngsters next to the Weavers, but without these acoustic elders, the aforementioned artists may have never found their folk voices. The Weavers were the main catalyst behind the folk explosion of the '50s and early '60s. This album captures the spark that led to that detonation. Certainly the foursome was responsible for the leftist political bent associated with folk music to this day. The Weavers were one of the few musical entities blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings in 1952 after a witness named them as Communists, probably a result of members Lee Hays and Pete Seeger's labor-union activities. In 1955 the quartet reunited for this historic show--and you can still hear the triumphant spirit in the air that night as the group (and audience) delight in the Weavers' brand of eclecticism, moving from Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie covers to old English ballads, African music, New Orleans spirituals, and songs that would soon influence rock & roll. --Bill Holdship

CD Reviews

Get this CD with Vol. 2 (5 stars) and you won't be disappoin

E. Galbraith | Upstate New York | 10/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I listened to the Carnegie Hall Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 LPs as a child and was not disappointed in these recordings as CDs. Vol. 1 has a more "folk music-y" flavor, no doubt from the influence of Pete Seeger, who tends to channel "pure" folk music in all its variants, from raw to rollicking. Vol. 2 songs are more typically melodic in their arrangements, although still definitely folk, and feature the musically interesting, husky yet pleasing voice of Eric Darling, with amazingly high-quality sound."

A classic

MOUNTAIN MAN | BOONE, NC USA | 08/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a classic from a bygone era. The playlist and the sound are impeccable. Shipped and arived quickly. Price was great.I'm a " happy camper " once again. Thank you Amazon and sellers."

Sounds like a pleasant evening with friends

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 01/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the other posters indicated, this was the Weavers' triumphant return to the stage and song after being blacklisted for leftist activites in 1952.

All of that aside, the CD is just plain fun. The foursome of folkie forerunners go through a number of tunes representing worldwide folk music in a very cherry fashion harminising to a guitar and Pete Seeger's peerless banjo.

The ending, when the entire Carnegie Hall audience joins them in the lovely "Goodnight Irene" is enough to make old Joe McCarthy and Ann Coulter dance in the aisles with Rush Limbaugh. It'll make you smile too, reminding you of a pleasant evening with friends singing along to a banjo and guitar.

BTW, Peter Paul and Mary have said in a documentary that they were in this audience as teenagers. They learned their lessons and carried the baton well."